Teifi Birding and Wildlife

May started with predictable small wader passage - peak numbers of 65 Ringed Plover , 65 Dunlin and 5 Sanderling . We usually see much larger numbers of these species in late May when the more northerly races of Ringed Plover and Dunlin pass through with the majority of the Sanderling. These peak numbers were on the 3rd, but the highlight on that morning was a male Whinchat  perched on a mist net pole in the Teifi reed bed. Wheatear are still migrating through the area. A surprise though to see eight on Patch along the track beyond the caravans on the 7th May. Wheatear, Teifi Estuary On the 4th the third Garganey of the year..just a drake this time, and he quickly flew down river. Sedge Warbler passage is best gauged by watching early morning activity from Mallard Hide as the newly arrived warblers flit about frantically feeding in the growing pondside reeds. Our migration monitoring ringing near Mallard Pond showed numbers peaked on the 7th in the damp weather, with 80 Sedge...

The flock of 49 Ringed Plover, 45 Dunlin and 3 Sanderling this evening was lovely to see...and hear! Ringed Plover Over the last couple of days 24 Ringed Plover has been the maximum, but with the change in the weather last night small waders have arrived and are constantly feeding until the tides pushes them to roost. Wader roost on Patch, Teifi Estuary There are still 4/5 Curlew around and Whimbrel numbers fluctuate between 10 - 20. Interesting that a small mobile flock of 6 Greylag Geese are often around the river and 1 male Wigeon remains with us . Warbler numbers....we wait... but Sedge Warblers are passing through and Reed Warblers are returning. Evenings on the Teifi Marshes are atmospheric with Cetti's   Warblers and Grasshopper Warblers singing beyond dusk.  Thirty years ago, in April 1992, land belonging to the former Cardigan Wildlife Park was bought by the Dyfed Wildlife Trust. This brought important habitat into that already owned by the Trust.   It is o...